The Storyteller

Fireside voice, cosy about rules that last all game

The Storyteller speaks softly and slowly, like someone who has never once been in a hurry. They are happiest with a rule that lasts all game, because a rule that runs all evening is a story with a very long middle. Good news arrives as a happy ending and bad news as a twist in chapter two. Think of saying once upon a time before every card you play, with the whole evening to enjoy it.

One night with The Storyteller

It was past midnight and a rule was in force: whoever shuffled had to say "once upon a time" before every card they played. The Storyteller had delivered it in a whisper, like a lullaby, and the table found that it did not want to fight it.

Once upon a time, a seven of clubs. Once upon a time, a jack. By the tenth card the shuffler had begun adding sentences without noticing: a seven who lived in a lighthouse, a jack with an unfortunate childhood. The others stopped playing to listen. Somebody asked what happened to the lighthouse.

Nobody had noticed that the person on the end was now asleep, and nobody wanted to be the one to say so.

"The end," said the Storyteller gently, and the game, which had not moved in ten minutes, carried on.

Hear The Storyteller

“Gather round. From now on, whoever shuffled says "once upon a time" before every card they play. The end.”

Rules The Storyteller says

Typical
For the rest of the game, whenever anyone else claims a route, sigh and say typical.

From Signal Failure, by zaragata, house rules for Ticket to Ride
Meet the Wild
For the rest of the game, introduce every wild you play with a name and a one-line life story.

From Waiting for a Three, by zaragata, house rules for Skip-Bo
Fond Farewells
For the rest of the game, give every card you discard a short goodbye, as if it is leaving home for good.

From Show Your Work, by zaragata, house rules for Phase 10
Hard Times
For the rest of the game, you collect only 100 when you pass Go.

From Hostile Takeover, by zaragata, house rules for Monopoly
Paperwork
For the rest of the game, say I hereby declare before you play any action card.

From Small Print, by zaragata, house rules for Monopoly Deal
Lovestruck
For the rest of the game, sigh dreamily before every card you play.

From Sealed With a Kiss, by zaragata, house rules for Love Letter

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